3 Africans arrested in matrimonial websites fraud case

Three African nationals along with an Indian woman have been arrested by Special Cell of Delhi Police for allegedly cheating prospective brides through popular matrimonial websites.
While claiming to have busted two such gangs, police has arrested Joseph Irabor Bhahemen, 26, and Bawo Hilary Omagbemi, 35, who are permanent residents of Nigeria, and Nagaland native Leniya Magh, 26. They all were presently residing in Gurgaon.
It said the gang had cheated a Hyderabad-based woman to the tune of Rs 48.75 lakh over the past few months after befriending her through a matrimonial website.
In another case, police arrested Nigerian national Henry Chima Anidebe, 30, who disclosed that other gang members were using 'voice changers' to modulate male voices into those of a woman to pose as a customs officer.

Deputy Commissioner of Police of Special Cell said the gang members were cheating innocent women through popular matrimonial websites and the victims have been identified from several parts of India including Delhi.
Police said the accused were using VoIP and other techniques to execute the cheating plan using an online services platform.

According to the special cell, it received information about cheating of prospective brides who subscribed to these matrimonial portals.
The accused were looking for a suitable match by creating and operating fictitious profiles, posing themselves as wealthy NRIs working in highly remunerative professions abroad.
They were using foreign SIM cards including that of UK, US, but they were used from within India on international roaming to mask real locations and identities, police said.

In one such case, several persons, including a woman, were in touch with a Hyderabad woman from March on the basis of a fake identity of Dr Abhishek Mohan created on a matrimonial website.
Police said Mohan, showing himself to be an orthopaedic surgeon working with the United Nations and currently in Iraq on an assignment, had expressed interest to the victim for a matrimonial alliance.
The victim told the police that Mohan was a UK citizen of Indian origin and used to call her from UK and Indian numbers, which he used to tell as being on International roaming. He also used to talk to her over Viber.